Malachi 3:13-15 Part 1 of 2

    "You have said terrible things about me," says the LORD.

    "But you say, 'What do you mean? What have we said against you?'

    "You have said, 'What's the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the LORD of Heaven's Armies that we're sorry for our sins? From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.' "

 

"You have said terrible things about me," says the LORD. 

"But you say, 'What do you mean? What have we said against you?' "

Malachi 2:17

    You have wearied the LORD with  your words.

    "How have we wearied him?" you ask.

    You have wearied him by saying that all who do evil are good in the LORD's sight, and he is pleased with them. You have wearied him by asking, "Where is the God of justice?" (see verses 10-16)

 

"You have said, 'What's the use of serving God?' " 

Psalm 73:13 

        Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? 

            Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? (see all Psalm 73)

Isaiah 57:10 

        "You grew weary in your search,

            but you never gave up.

        Desire gave you renewed strength,

            and you did not grow weary." (see verses 3-13)

Isaiah 47:13 

        "All the advice you receive has only made you tired.

            Where are all your astrologers,

        those stargazers who make predictions each month?

            Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds."

        (see verses 8-15)

Jeremiah 2:25

        "When will you stop running?

            When will you stop panting after other gods?

        But you say, 'Save your breath.

            I'm in love with these foreign gods,

            and I can't stop loving them now!' " (see verses 4-30)

Jeremiah 18:12  But the people replied, "Don't waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires." (see verses 1-17)

 

" 'What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the LORD of Heaven's Armies that we're sorry for our sins?' " 

Joshua 22:5  "But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul." (see verses 1-6)

Isaiah 1:11-14

        "What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?"

            says the LORD

        "I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams

            and the fat of fattened cattle.

        I get no pleasure from the blood

            of bulls and lambs and goats.

        When you come to worship me,

            who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony?

        Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts;

            the incense of your offerings disgusts me!

        As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath

            and your special days for fasting--

        they are all sinful and false.

            I want no more of your pious meetings.

        I hate your new moon celebrations and

            your annual festivals.

        They are a burden to me, I cannot

            stand them!" (see verses 10-17)

Isaiah 58:3

        " 'We have fasted before you!' they say.

            'Why aren't you impressed?

        We have been very hard on ourselves,

            and you don't even notice it!'

        I will tell you why!" I respond.

            "It's because you are fasting to please yourselves.

        Even while you fast,

            you keep oppressing your workers." (see verses 1-9)         

 

(parentheses are mine)

 

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.